Miles Morales Confirmed as Spider-Man in Sony’s New Animated Film

Last May, it was rumored that Miles Morales — not Peter Parker — would be the lead character in Sony’s upcoming animated Spider-Man movie, which will operate independently from the studio’s live-action Spidey reboot. Today, Sony Pictures Animation confirmed that longstanding rumor, officially announcing Miles Morales as the central character in the new animated film.

The animated Spider-Man movie appears to remain untitled for now, but Sony Pictures Animation has officially confirmed Miles Morales as the lead in the project, set to be scripted and produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller — the beloved duo behind The LEGO Movie and the upcoming Han Solo Star Wars spinoff. Morales was created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli, and became a fan-favorite following his debut in Ultimate Fallout #4. After the death of Peter Parker, Morales, a Brooklyn teen of black and Hispanic descent, takes up the Spidey mantle.

Morales was hailed by many, including original Spider-Man creator Stan Lee, as a positive role model for the character’s younger minority fans, though it seemed unlikely that he’d ever appear in a live-action Spidey movie — especially when Sony producers nixed the idea in 2014, saying that Peter Parker is the only Spider-Man we’ll ever see in a live-action film.

…But they didn’t say anything about an animated movie. That film will be directed by Bob Perischetti (The Little Prince) and Peter Ramsey (Rise of the Guardians). In addition to leading the animated feature, which hits theaters on December 21, 2018, Miles Morales is rumored to appear in the new animated Spider-Man TV series, which recently unveiled its first teaser.

Sony has yet to announce voice casting for the animated film — maybe we’ll finally get that Donald GloverSpider-Man movie we’ve been waiting for?